Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

Mr. Alex · 2011-06-05 16:45:19

I want to be a programmer, a good one (need for job, it's PHP). Help me with the question: how to develop one's programming skills for real situations when the language one will use is already learned? By that I mean the skills to actually create a code for solving difficult tasks. Because sometimes you know all the commands to create some piece of code but you just can't think out how to write this piece of code. It's like a lack of programmer's mind establishment.

P. S. Please don't suggest to change the future job. I'm going to. I need a solution, not a job suggestion. :-)

Barrucadu · 2011-06-05 17:34:46

Lots of practice.

Zeist · 2011-06-05 17:50:58

Barrucadu wrote:

Lots of practice.

I agree,

The only way to learn how to create code for real situations is to code in real situations.

Barrucadu · 2011-06-06 03:01:32

If you're looking for some practice ideas, as you're using PHP try implementing a CMS, a blog, a forum, or some other non-trivial project. You don't have to make something incredibly complicated (and it doesn't need to look pretty, either) - but learning how to break a big task down into smaller problems to solve is an essential skill.

sand_man · 2011-06-06 03:03:39

Knowing how to program is just one aspect you need to learn. Even if you're just a code monkey it's good to have a grasp of software engineering processes like RUP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Ration … ed_Process

sugardeath · 2011-06-06 06:01:53

Barrucadu wrote:

If you're looking for some practice ideas, as you're using PHP try implementing a CMS, a blog, a forum, or some other non-trivial project. You don't have to make something incredibly complicated (and it doesn't need to look pretty, either) - but learning how to break a big task down into smaller problems to solve is an essential skill.

I completely agree with this. To learn both Perl and Android, the first thing I did was develop a basic task list program. It was something I had a real world need for, and it introduced me to quite a few concepts in both. I already knew Java by the time I did Android, but the Android.. way of doing things was new, and making an actual app that I wanted to use was really the best way to figure it all out.

Basically, find something you want, or a friend wants, and have at it. Maybe your group of friends needs a way to keep track of who is currently borrowing what movies or video games from each other. Or your family needs a place to share pictures and memories. A real project is the best way to learn real problem solving (which is the basis for programming).

alterecco · 2011-06-06 19:30:03

I will add my voice to that chorus. Practice. And study other peoples code to see how some common problems are handled.

For practicing, find some program that you think it would be fun to build, or you feel you need yourself. Then start from one end. I find it quite important that what I am doing is something I enjoy to do. Also, don't be afraid to look at other languages. Usually, a lot of what you learn when writing a program in one language can be used when writing a program in another language. For example, if you are building a webapp in PHP, don't be afraid to dig into Javascript as well.

ewaller · 2011-06-07 02:47:15

I might suggest you pick a reasonably complex program and implement it in each new language you learn. In my case, it is a GUI application that generates and displays a fully connected N by M maze, and then solves that maze using a right hand rule. I've implemented it in BASIC, Pascal, C, C++ with Qt, C++ with wxWidgets, C++ with gtkmm, Python with PyQt, Python with wxPython, and in Java on an Android. With the exception of BASIC and Pascal, all of the other programs also included the ability to display a 3D rendering using OpenGL.

I do this because I understand the algorithms, but have to learn how to handle stacks, storage for the maze (matrices or lists), graphics, events, etc.

edit: typo

Last edited by ewaller (2011-06-07 02:47:57)

3]) · 2011-06-07 12:02:55

Try coding a computer game, will teach you a lot about the language especially the importance of lists, dictionaries, and if used some object oriented programming.
Also, the end result is a fun game.

Then you can go on to read and practice using code from the many opensource projects that exist.
Tweak & run, see result, tweak again, run code again, see what happens-repeat and repeat until the wisdom seeps in.

Mr. Alex · 2011-06-07 12:33:41

Thanks for advices!

aport · 2011-06-07 20:21:36

Barrucadu wrote:

Write lots of programs.

Fixed and agreed.

Awebb · 2011-06-07 21:55:40

Practice indeed. Write code on a daily basis. At first my scripts had that many pipes, if I took a bong hit for every pipe, I'd go fly to the moon with Jim and Bob. Now I know how to use find + exec and it stops looking like a college party...

Try solving everything you need to do by yourself. For a php programmer might that mean that you just used your last GUI you didn't create by yourself.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-06-05 16:45:19

Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#2 2011-06-05 17:34:46

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#3 2011-06-05 17:50:58

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#4 2011-06-06 03:01:32

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#5 2011-06-06 03:03:39

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#6 2011-06-06 06:01:53

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#7 2011-06-06 19:30:03

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#8 2011-06-07 02:47:15

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#9 2011-06-07 12:02:55

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#10 2011-06-07 12:33:41

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#11 2011-06-07 20:21:36

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

#12 2011-06-07 21:55:40

Re: Programming language learned, how to become a real programmer?

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